Carboy crate



J. A. MARTIN CARBOY CRATE Oct. 30, 1962 Filed Jan. 25, 1960 3,061,135Patented Oct.30, 1962 3,061,135 CARBOY CRATE John A. Martin, St. Johns,Mich, assignor to Carrier Stephens C0., Lansing, Mich, a corporation ofMichigau Filed Jan. 25, 1960, Ser. No. 4,551 1 Claim. (Cl. 220-19) Thepresent invention comprises a carboy carrier or crate and moreparticularly is directed to a new and improved wire crate wherein thearrangement of the base structure and vertical support members resultsin greatly improved economy of production, minimization of material,improved base strength, and makes possible substantial increase in therate of production.

In the material handling field the most awkward materials to be handledare chemicals, acids, alkalis, salts, and solutions which are placed inwell known large carboys. In some instances, the carboys are glass ormetal. In other instances the carboys are prepared from resins such aspolyethylene and the like. In all instances, the carboys resemblinglarge flasks or bottles, cannot be stacked and care must be taken toavoid breakage or puncture during handling. A variety of materials havebeen applied to the encasement of such bottles or carboys. The artincludes wooden framing, Wicker encasement, and steel crating. Thepresent invention falls into the latter category and comprises a wirestructure or encasement so that the carboy, when inserted in the crate,is fully visible, can be tilted with the crate for pouring, and thecrate cushions the bottle or carboy against chance breakage. The instantinvention comprises an improvement of the structures set forth in UnitedStates Letters Patent 2,330,982; 2,541,972; 2,766,899, and 2,766,900".

The present device is distinguishable over the prior art carboy cratesin that the polar pairs of vertical rod supports, forming a part of thecarboy suspension peripheral support, are splayed or bent at the base toprovide diagonal support to the corners of the base portion therebypermitting a substantial simplification in structure, an increase inbase strength, and a material reduction in crate cost. The verticalcompressive stresses are transmitted into the rectangular base in aresilient manner so as to impart excellent flexural stress absorptioncharacteristics in the finished crate.

The vertical rods forming the carboy support pocket are circumscribed bya plurality of spaced apart metal rings. The cornermost pairs of thevertical pocket rods are splayed to connect with the upper and lowerrectangular or square wire frame elements. This structural integrationresults in a very strong crate having top and base members which arevery resistent to deformation.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is theimprovement of rod stock carboy crates so as to strengthen the baseportion of the crate while maintaining a cylindrical bottle pocket andwherein the members defining the bottle pocket distribute thecompressive stresses on the crate to the external rectangular basemember at the corners. This is extremely important in vertical stackingsince the lowermost crate receives the cumulative stresses from thetiered carboys and crates.

Another object is to minimize the cost of assembly while maintainingrequisite carrier strength.

Still another object is to provide an improved support base whichdiagonally receives stresses from the bottle pocket members.

Other objects including controlled flexure of the crate, both as toouter and inner members, simplicity, amenability to increasedproduction, and rugged serviceability will become increasingly apparentto persons familiar with the material handling art as the descriptionproceeds.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a crate embodying the presentinvention with the bottle retaining ring in position as if retaining abottle in position.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view of the crate shown in FIGURE 1 asviewed from the pouring opening side.

FIGURE 3 is a partial perspective view of the base portion of the crateas shown in FIGURE 1 but having the vertical rods severed above thelowermost ring member for clarity.

Description The present invention comprises a plurality of spaced apartouter rectangular formed rod enclosures each in spaced register with thenext lowermost. The spacing interval is maintained by corner verticalmembers thus forming an openwork rectilinear outer frame structure. Aplurality of circular rings are located in spaced apart parallelrelation inside of the outer frame. A plurality of spaced apart verticalmembers secured to the inside of said circular rings define acylindrical bottle pocket frame inside the outer frame.

The cornermost pairs of the vertical cylinder forming members aresplayed downwardly and outwardly below the lowermost ring member todiagonally connect with the lowermost rectangular member, therebyinterconnecting said cylindrical bottle pocket with said outer frame.Splaying is also accomplished at the top of the crate and above theuppermost ring member in the same corner positioned pair of pocketforming vertical members, their upper terminal connections being withthe upper rectangular rod frame.

A grid is established across the base or lowermost rectangular rod frameby the crossing of two sets of spaced apart rods. Overlaying the grid isa centered rod ring forming a bottle thrust transmitting pedestal. Thebase ring is centered on the axis of the cylindrical carboy bottlepocket.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, in FIG- URE 1 a carboycrate 11 in accord with the present invention, is illustrated. The crate11 comprises an inner cylindrical bottle pocket 12, an outer rectilinearframe 13, and a pouring opening 14 allowing the crate 11, whencontaining a carboy (not shown) to be tilted on its base for pouring. Abottle retaining ring 15 spans the cylindrical bottle pocket 12 at theupper portion thereof to retain a carboy from chance withdrawal from thepocket 12. Wire clasp members 16 accomplish the positioning of theretaining ring 15 against the belling neck portion of a carboy or bottlewhen inserted in the crate 11.

A square wire base member 17 is provided. A plurality of similar squaremembers 18, 19, 20 and 21 are provided in spaced apart parallel registerwith the base member 17. The uppermost square members 20 and 21 aregapped to provide the pouring opening 14. The square member 21 forms thetop frame. The spaced apart interval between square outer frame members17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 is maintained by the heavy vertical rod cornerposts 22, 23, 24 and 25 which are welded to the base frame 17 at thecorners thereof. The posts 22, 23, 24 and 25 extend upward verticallyand are connected to each of the intermediate square frame members 17,18, 19, 20 and 21. The corner posts 22, 23, 24 and 25 are provided withhook ends 26, 27, 28 and 29, respectively, which extend above the topframe 21 at the corners thereof. As will be appreciated these hook ends26, 27, 28 and 29 are welded diagonally across the corners of the topframe 21, thereby forming upstanding stacking lugs. The posts 22, 23, 24and 25 therefore lean slightly from the vertical. Circular wire ringmembers 30 and 31 having an outer diameter substantially equal to theside of the square frame are interposed in spaced apart verticalregister in the square frame. These rings 30 and 31 are retained inspaced register by full vertical pairs of rods 32, 33; 34, 35; 36, 37and 38, 39. These full rods are connected to the inner sides of saidrings 30 and 31 as by welding at their transverse intersection and arealso connected to each of the intermediate square members 18, 19 and 20as well as being terminally connected to the upper or top and base framemembers 21 and 17, intermediate the corners thereof, except for members38 and 39 which terminate at the upper ring 31 to assist in providingthe pouring opening 14.

The vertical splayed corner member pairs 40, 41; 4 2, 43; 44, 45; and46, 47 are also connected to the inside of the ring members 30 and 31,but are splayed outwardly therefrom to connect at the top to the topsquare frame 21 and at the bottom to the square base frame 17. Thisarrangement results in a diagonal bracing of the pocket 12 inrelationship to the rectangular or rectilinear outer frame 13 at theupper and lower corners thereof.

The base member 17 is provided with a wire grid bottom built up of twohorizontally positioned spanning rods 48 and 49 and two transverselyprovided grid rods 50 and 51. The grid rods are terminally welded to theframe 17 and the grid rods 48 and 49 are jogged downwardly where theycross grid rods 50 and 51, the jogs 53 providing a nest for rods 50 and51 and also providing a plurality of support feet in elevationalregister with base frame 17. A bottle support ring 52 centered on theaxis of the bottle pocket 12 provides a ring support for carboyspositioned in the pocket 12. The support ring 52 is welded to the gridrods 48, 49, 50 and 51 offset from their intersections with each other.

In construction the prefabricated and gridded base member 17, top member21 and intermediate outer frame members 18, 19 and 20 are easilyprefabricated and fixed in assembled spaced relation as by the posts 22,23, 24 and 25. The cylindrical pocket 12 is prefabricated by securing,as by welding, the full vertical members 3239, inclusive, to the ringmembers 30 and 31.

The splayed members 40-47, inclusive, being longer in length than thevertical members 32-39, inclusive, are positioned in polar pairs insidethe rings 30 and 31 and are welded thereto. The thus formed inner frameis positioned inside the outer rectilinear frame and is centrallysecured therein by splaying the members 40-47 (toward the verticalcorners) above and below the rings 31 and 30 to connect with the upperand lower frame members 21 and 17 at the diagonal positions indicated atthe frame corners as indicated in the drawing. As will be appreciatedfrom FIGURES 1 and 2, the vertical pair of members 38 and 39 have theirupper terminal connection at the upper ring 31. The square frame members20 and 21 are gapped on one side, as indicated, to provide the pouringopening 14.

The resultant structure is much cheaper to produce than prior art steelwire crates and the base member 17 and top members are increased instrength without increase in crate weight. The indicated splaying ofcorner positioned vertical members reinforces the top and base memberswhile providing a resilient integration as between outer rectilinearframe and inner cylindrical frame. The present device is very amenableto high production and low cost by reason of the prefabrication which ispracticed in respect to the base, and inner and outer frames. Thepresent crate has increased resistance to torsional stresses anddeformation tendencies are transmitted to the vertical members formingthe inner bottle pocket without localization on the carboy surface.

While the preferred material forming the elements of the present deviceis steel wire and rod stock, other materials having similar strengthcharacteristics such as resin and light metals may also be used. Wheredesirable, the crates may be dip coated or the like to resist corrosionand deterioration.

Having thus described my inventive improvement in carboy crates thoseskilled in the art will immediately appreciate obvious improvements andmodifications. Such improvements and modifications are intended to beincluded in the present specification limited only by the scope of thehereinafter appended claim.

Iclaim:

An improved carboy crate comprising:

(a) a plurality of square wire members in vertically spaced apartrelation, each occupying parallel horizontal planes;

(1;) vertical corner wire rods secured substantially at the corners ofeach of said square wire members and extending above the uppermost ofsaid square wire members;

(0) a plurality of circular wire members in registering verticallyspaced apart parallel relation within the enclosure defined by saidsquare members, each having a diameter of a length substantially equalto the length of a side of said square wire members, the uppermost ofsaid circular members being parallel to and below the uppermost of saidsquare members, the lowermost of said circular members being parallel toand above the lowermost of said circular members;

(d) pairs of spaced parallel vertical support wires arising from withineach of said square wire members each wire of said pair equally spacedfrom the midpoints of each side of said square members, said pairs beingwithin said circular members and secured thereto;

(e) pairs of corner splayed rods secured one on each side of the cornersof the lowermost square member, bent inwardly to internal contact withthe lowermost of said circular wire members and rising vertically toregistering internal contact with the uppermost of said circular wiremembers and thereupon splaying outwardly from said uppermost circularmember to fixed contact with the vertically registering points of theuppermost of said square members in respect to the corners of the saidlowermost square member;

(f) and a bottom grid peripherally defined by the lowermost of saidsquare members and having crossed wires supported by the lowermost ofsaid square members and including a centered circular wire ringconcentric about the center of said lowermost square grid and secured tothe tops of said grid.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,643,407 Florance Sept. 27, 1927 2,330,982 Martin et al Oct. 5, 19432,541,972 Wallace Feb. 13, 1951 2,670,984 Arthur Mar. 2, 1954 2,766,899Wallace Oct. 16, 1956 2,766,900 Wallace Oct. 16, 1956

